Is the front IFS of the H3 that bad? Refering to Transmission components

[Guerrero]

Well, I have a question to all of you. I have a 2006 Hummer H3 luxury package automatic (with the 4:1 tcase, soft shocks and rear locker from factory)
I read a lot about the bad the front of the H3 is, related to weakness. But in my experience, doing everything, crawling, desert, fast deserts run, rallyes... is that is not that weak. I see that a lot of weakness comes from the front mounts.

The first thing that I did, is to replace all front bushing, steering and differential mounts, with the Outfitter design kit. Complete replacement of 3 bushing in front differential, and all the bushing in the steering with the kit. Now all in solid mount, and I noticed it a lot in driving, I noticed it strong. One day I hear a popping noise in the front, it was a CV making noise, so I decided to put two new ACDelco CV axles, the one that come standart with the alpha version, and now the only one that you can get from AcDelco. Another point to be reinforced is the front crosmember, where it attach to the frame. It cracks when you remove it, and I welded it very well to prevent another cracks in the future.

So with all of this: Alpha CVs, complete Outfitter design kit, and crosmember welded. I notice the front very very strong..but is true that I dont push it to the limits.

So....is it true that weakness? Or with the mods that I had done I reduce a lot the possibilities of cracking the front?

Thanks you so much. Guerrero

 

[amrg]

Desert runs/rallies are usually hard on the shocks/bushings and ball joints. The diff gets less abuse since the tire grip is much lower in the sand/mud
I drive it like its stolen offroad (desert and dunes) and it lasted so far. Did have to replace the shocks/bump stops and had the cvs replaced but that was due to a torn boot and the cvs ran dry out of grease for awhile. Engine mounta didnt last either nor did trans mounts.

Crawling is different, tire spinning and suddenly gripping (or getting stuck between two rocks) will send shockwaves through the diff.

So it depends.

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[4speedfunk]

Sounds like you've done all you can. I would recommend all of those mods on ANY H3. That being said...the front axle is still a fragile, grossly under-sized, piece of crap. But at least you've done all you can to keep it together. Short of a complete (and expensive) swap to something larger...you'll have to live with it. I've seen them take some abuse but excessive wheel spin will scatter any AAM-7.6 all over the trail.


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[Guerrero]

Thanks you so much for your answers. Yes I think that my type of driving and off road is less abuse on the front differential.
Despite of that, I think that with these mods the front keep together very well. I wonder if the cast iron front differential with all of these mods would resist a lot of abuse or maybe the problem is the quality of the internal pieces...

Thanks! And continue the comments! I would like to read comparations with H3 based on experience with others 4x4 refering to reliability in off road use.

 

[GreatDaneHummer]

Even going to a cast iron front diff doesn't fix the small ring & pinion or the small cv axles.

 

[RamRod]

But would better prevent deflection in the housing which helps the small ring setup

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